Levon Helm

The last time I saw Levon Helm was when I opened two shows for him in Toronto in 2011. He and his band backed me up on my song “Crescent City,” and I sat in on “Evangeline,” by the Band. I was struck by his youthful spirit and the camaraderie that filled the stage during those special nights. He was sweet and generous with his time. His handshake was warm and strong. His music still said, “I’m alive, and I love what I do.” When he grinned his sweet Levon grin, there was still that sparkle in his eyes. Most of all, his Southern country-boy humor was as alive as ever. As we talked backstage, I reminded him that my dad’s family hailed from Arkansas, like Levon did. He smiled, took my hand and said, “Well, I won’t hold that against you.”